Gender Bias in Managerial Positions in the Private Sector in Kosovo Diona Hoxha [email protected]
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Rochester Institute of Technology RIT Scholar Works Theses 8-2019 Gender Bias in Managerial Positions in the Private Sector in Kosovo Diona Hoxha [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.rit.edu/theses Recommended Citation Hoxha, Diona, "Gender Bias in Managerial Positions in the Private Sector in Kosovo" (2019). Thesis. Rochester Institute of Technology. Accessed from This Senior Project is brought to you for free and open access by RIT Scholar Works. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses by an authorized administrator of RIT Scholar Works. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Gender Bias in Managerial Positions in the Private Sector in Kosovo An Honors Society Project Diona Hoxha Advisor: Venera Demukaj, Ph.D. August, 2019 Diona Hoxha Page | 1 www.kosovo.rit.edu Contents 1. Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................... 4 2. Abstract ..................................................................................................................................................... 5 3. List of Abbreviations ................................................................................................................................ 6 4.1 List of Tables .......................................................................................................................................... 7 4.2 List of Figures ......................................................................................................................................... 7 5. Problem Statement .................................................................................................................................... 8 6. Introduction-Women in Business in Kosovo ............................................................................................ 8 7. Literature Review .................................................................................................................................... 10 7.1 Gender barriers in Kosovo’s labor market ........................................................................................ 10 7.1.1 Disregarding qualifications ........................................................................................................ 10 7.1.2 Traditional gender occupations .................................................................................................. 11 7.1.3 Discriminatory language in job advertisements ......................................................................... 11 7.1.4 Maternity leave- lengthy, nevertheless, with low compensation ............................................... 13 7.1.5 Women employees and contracts ............................................................................................... 13 7.2 Gender self-esteem gap ..................................................................................................................... 14 7.2.1 Role Congruity Theory .............................................................................................................. 14 7.2.1.1 Social roles: Communal and agentic attributes ....................................................................... 15 7.2.1.2 Prejudice against female leaders and managers ...................................................................... 16 7.2.2 Criteria to apply for a job ........................................................................................................... 17 7.3 Gender quotas ................................................................................................................................... 18 7.3.1 International examples ............................................................................................................... 18 7.3.1.1 Legal Instruments .................................................................................................................... 18 7.3.1.2 Voluntary regimes ................................................................................................................... 19 7.3.2 Pros ............................................................................................................................................ 19 7.3.2.1 No other measure has resulted to be more efficient until now ................................................ 19 7.3.2.2 Factor in efficiency ................................................................................................................. 20 7.3.3 Cons ........................................................................................................................................... 21 8. Methodology ........................................................................................................................................... 21 8.1 Secondary Data ................................................................................................................................. 22 8.2 Primary Data ..................................................................................................................................... 22 8.2.1 Semi-structured Interviews ........................................................................................................ 22 Diona Hoxha Page | 2 www.kosovo.rit.edu 8.2.2 Surveys ....................................................................................................................................... 22 8.3 Limitations ........................................................................................................................................ 23 9. Results ..................................................................................................................................................... 23 9.1 Unequal upbringing .......................................................................................................................... 24 9.2 Confidence ........................................................................................................................................ 26 9.3 Perceived managerial traits based on gender .................................................................................... 27 9.4 Quotas ............................................................................................................................................... 32 10. Recommendations ................................................................................................................................. 33 11. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................ 34 12. References ............................................................................................................................................. 36 13. Appendices ............................................................................................................................................ 39 Diona Hoxha Page | 3 www.kosovo.rit.edu 1. Acknowledgements I would like to express my profound gratitude to the people who gave their valuable input in this research. My sincere appreciation goes to my Professor Venera Demukaj, who has guided me throughout this period and assisted me during my studies with no hesitation. Her valuable criticism and knowledge on the topic steered this research paper towards the right path. I would also like to acknowledge the input of the survey respondents and the interviewed experts, who made this research credible and depicted their point of view on the current labor market in Kosovo. In this regard, I would like to express my thankfulness to my friends, Jehona Karavidaj and Leonora Cerreti, who did not hesitate to help me on field data collection and propose suitable interviewees for the topic. Last but certainly not least, I must also take this opportunity to appreciate the continuous and never-ending support of my most valuable asset-my family, throughout my years of study. I dedicate this project to my mother, Teuta, my father, Erzen, my siblings, Drin and Nika and my other half Emir Abrashi. Their wise, empathic and supportive approach to encourage and guide me have made me forever indebted to them. Thank you! Diona Hoxha Page | 4 www.kosovo.rit.edu 2. Abstract This project analyzes gender bias and gender barriers in managerial positions by focusing on private the sector in Kosovo. The study specifically analyzes the barriers that women in the private sector face, such as disregarding qualifications, traditional gender based occupations, discriminatory language in job ads, maternity leave and the lack of contracts that make the employee-employer relationship legally binding. It further elaborates on the concept of gender quotas in management and analyzes their effects in managerial positions and the workplace in general. The study also analyzes best practices outside Kosovo, in which gender equality has been integrated as a part of policies and the aim of decreasing the inequality gap has been achieved. This research was written based on both primary and secondary data. Primary data was collected through semi structured interviews and surveys. The results extracted by the primary and secondary data received by the interviews and surveys confirm that women are underrepresented in the labor market in Kosovo. Gender bias exists and this has penalized women from successfully competing in the market. Some of the most crucial